Original Drawing (front And Back) — Ancient Deities And Ephiphanies Of Egypt

Double-sided drawing executed in pen and sepia wash, attributed to Jean-Guillaume Moitte, bringing together several figure studies inspired by Greco-Roman antiquity and Egyptian-inspired imagery.

The front features three figures draped in the classical style, including a nude male figure leaning against a pillar adorned with carved masks. The hieratic poses, drapery, and accessories evoke the models studied in 18th-century Italian archaeological collections.

The reverse side shows two female figures inspired by ancient Egyptian art, depicted in full face in an almost sculptural pose, holding architectural or votive elements. The geometric simplicity of the forms and the frontal orientation of the silhouettes reflect the growing interest of Neoclassical artists in Eastern civilizations and archaeological discoveries.

This drawing attests to the 18th-century artists’ fascination with the archaeological sketches made during the Grand Tour, which was then considered essential to the training of painters, sculptors, and architects.

Attributed to Jean-Guillaume Moitte, this study is fully in line with the Neoclassical movement, which was fueled by the rediscovery of antiquity and the excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum.

In good overall condition with slight signs of age and minor creases from handling.

23 x 30 cm